Festivals in Bhutan

Bhutan is the land of people who are deeply associated with their age-long customs and festivals. These festivals bring smile on their faces. The Bhutanese celebrate their festivals with huge fanfare. They dance, sing and eat, and follow plethora of customs which are inextricably associated with these festivals. Watching them perform these festivals is a delightful and intriguing sight.

Dromche
Dromche (festival) generally include dances and this festival is dedicated to Yeshe Gompo (Mahakala) or Palden Lhamo, the two main protective deities of Drukpas (Drukpas = means people of Druk land or Bhutanese). Punakha Dromche take place in the first month of the lunar year and ends with 'Serda', a magnificent procession which re-enacts an episode of the war against the Tibetan in the 17th century.

Jambay Lhakhang Drup
The festival is held for duel reasons; to commemorate an establishment of Jambay Lhakhang (temple) in 7 th century and to honor Guru Rimpoche, a saint who introduced Tantric form of Buddhism in Bhutan . A variety of traditional and mask dances are performed and each dance bear significant meaning/importance.

This festival is one of the most important in Bhutan and its high light is the 'Mewang" - the fire ceremony and the " Tercham" - a religious dance. A fire dance is held in the evening to bless infertile women so that they may bear children.

Paro Festival
There is a sequence of dances at Paro Tshechu. Most dances are the same at others Tshechus, but the sequence varies. On day one is Shinje Yab Yum, dance of the lord of death and his consort. The costume is of buffalo mask and long brocade dress. The day two begins with "chipdrel" traditional reception. The Astara (clown) welcomes the audience with the marchang ceremony. The the mask dances begin

Thimpu Festival
Thimpu festival is the festival of dances. Some of these dances are shacham or the dance of the four stag, pelage gingsum or the dance of the three kinds of ging, pacham or the dance of the heroes, shawo shachi or dance of the stags and the hounds, dranyeo cham or dance with guitar, shana or black dance, shaa nga cham or dance of the 21 black hats with drum and, pholeg moleg or dance of the noblemen and the ladies.

Tshechu
Tshechu is festival honouring Guru Padsambhava - 'one who was born from lotus flower'. This Indian saint contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan etc. around 800 A.D. He is the founder of the Nyingmapa, the 'old school' of Lamaism which still has numerous followers.

TENTATIVE FESTIVAL DATES FOR 2010

Sl. No

FESTIVAL

PLACE

DATES

1

PUNAKHA DROMCHE

Punakha Dzong; PUNAKHA

2

PUNAKHA TSHECHU

Punakha Dzong; PUNAKHA

3

CHORTEN KORA

Chorten Kora; TRASHIYANGTSE

4

THARPALING THONGDROL

Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG

5

TANGSIBI MANI (URA)

Tangsibi Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG

6

BULLI MANI (CHUMMI)

Buli Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG

7

GADEN CHODPA (URA)

Gaden Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG

8

GOMKORA

Gom Kora Lhakhang; TRASHIGANG

9

PARO TSHECHU

Rinpung Dzong; PARO

10

CHUKHA TSHECHU

CHUKHA

11

DOMKHAR TSHECHU

Domkhar, Chummi, BUMTHANG

12

URA YAKCHOE

Ura Lhakhang; BUMTHANG

13

PADSEL-LING KUCHOD

Padsel-ling Gonpa, Choekhor, BUMTHANG

14

NIMALUNG TSHECHU

Nimalung Dratshang, Chummi, BUMTHANG

15

KURJEY TSHECHU

Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG

16

THIMPHU DRUBCHEN

Tashi Chhodzong, THIMPHU

17

WANGDI TSHECHU

Wangdi Dzong, WANGDUE PHODRANG

18

TAMSHINGPHALA CHOEPA

Tamshing Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG

19

THIMPHU TSHECHU

TaashiChhodzong, THIMPHU

20

TANGBI MANI

Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG

21

SHINGKHAR RABNEY (URA)

Shingkhar Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG

22

JAKAR TSECHU

Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, BUMTHANG

23

JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUP

Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG

24

PRAKHAR DUCHHOED

Prakar Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG

25

SUMDRANG KANGSOL(URA)

Sumdrang Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG

26

CRANE FESTIVAL

PHOBJI KHA; WANGDUE PHODRANG

27

MONGAR TSHECHU

Mongar Dzong, MONGAR

28

PEMAGATSHEL TSHECHU

Pemagatshel Dzong, PEMAGATSHEL

29

TRASHIGANG TSHECHU

Trashigang Dzong, TRASHIGANG

30

TANG NAMKHA RABNEY (TANG)

Tang Namkha Lhakhang, BUMTHANG

31

JAMBAY LAHKHANG SINGYE CHAM

Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG

21st NOV

32

NALAKHAR TSHECHU (Zhey)

Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG

21st – 23rd NOV

33

CHOJAM RABNEY (TANG)

Chojamrab Lhakhang, Tang, BUMTHANG

20th – 24th NOV

34

TRONGSA TSHECHU

Trongsa Dzong, TRONGSA

15th – 17th DEC

35

LHUNTSE TSHECHU

Lhuntse Dzong, LHUNTSE

15th – 17th DEC

36

SHINGKHAR METOCHODPA (URA)

Shingkhar Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG

21st DEC

37

NABJI LHAKHANG DRUP

Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, TRONGSA

21st – 25th DEC

Note: Please verify dates with us before confirming your tour to combine any of above specified festivals.

Amazing
Adventures

Client
Testimonials

Stephen Gray

I spent very memorable days in the Everest region in Nepal. I used to dream to see this highest peak of the world and now I arrested it in my camera. My guide arranged everything and helped me a lot. He did not let me feel tired and boring. I…